Okay, so how about getting in touch with VGA staff and talk about this with them instead of doing a big useless rant which is clearly off-topic in this thread.

You can easily get in contact with them. Go on, see if they're aware of what you are aware, and if they're not, how about sharing your knowledge on the subject so they can do a better job. That would be positive.

'cause i think they're scumbags who will do anything for money? They're grading shrinkwrap for christ sake.

On the bright side you can make money helping them grade it. Say what you want, that would be a cool job. I mean shit, I'd microwave hamsters if the money was right and I got full dental.

Originally posted by: BeaglePuss
I also have to say that given the game's history, I don't think the original programmers would need to be contacted in order to further authenticate the auction.

If you don't remember where you bought the cart from, as you claim in this thread, how can anyone possibly vouch for this as authentic?

I was refering to Arcadia VI (as it's the only title being auctioned that has been VGA'd), to which I remember the exact history in which I purchased the cart. The SMB cart has not been touched by VGA in any sense.

Okay, so how about getting in touch with VGA staff and talk about this with them instead of doing a big useless rant which is clearly off-topic in this thread.

You can easily get in contact with them. Go on, see if they're aware of what you are aware, and if they're not, how about sharing your knowledge on the subject so they can do a better job. That would be positive.

'cause i think they're scumbags who will do anything for money? They're grading shrinkwrap for christ sake.

On the bright side you can make money helping them grade it. Say what you want, that would be a cool job. I mean shit, I'd microwave hamsters if the money was right and I got full dental.

No, in this auction they issued a certificate of authenticity on an item they didn't produce. They're authenticating an item produced decades before they entered the market, and have no demonstrable authority. It would have more weight it you two just certified them yourselves, you're more of an expert on NES prototypes then they are.

Okay, so how about getting in touch with VGA staff and talk about this with them instead of doing a big useless rant which is clearly off-topic in this thread.

You can easily get in contact with them. Go on, see if they're aware of what you are aware, and if they're not, how about sharing your knowledge on the subject so they can do a better job. That would be positive.

'cause i think they're scumbags who will do anything for money? They're grading shrinkwrap for christ sake.

I highly doubt they really represent your definition. They're not doing 'anything for money', they're grading video games collectible for money. Don't assume the peep working there are just greedy asshole searching to rip-off your mother and children. There's a demand for their service, and they fulfill it. They're not the first collectible grading service. This step in video game collecting was inevitable, because of many factors surrounding any kind of collectible hobby.

Just saying they're scumbags won't do anything good, but trying to share your knowledge on the subject might. You can choose your philosophy on the matter. Do you want to be an endless ranting negative guy, or an altruist knowledgeable person?

No, in this auction they issued a certificate of authenticity on an item they didn't produce. They're authenticating an item produced decades before they entered the market, and have no demonstrable authority. It would have more weight it you two just certified them yourselves, you're more of an expert on NES prototypes then they are.

While I would agree, it would come off as a conflict of interest to varify our own carts. There was that dude here (was it Born-something....) that made a VGA-like grading system that he used in his eBay auction. He "grades" his own CIB/Resealed games, and he's been essentially blacklisted as a result.

There was a time where Mark and I were actually talking to VGA about acting as prototype specialist, but it never amounted to anything. We would be grading other parties games and not our own of course.

No, in this auction they issued a certificate of authenticity on an item they didn't produce. They're authenticating an item produced decades before they entered the market, and have no demonstrable authority. It would have more weight it you two just certified them yourselves, you're more of an expert on NES prototypes then they are.

Again though, that creates a huge conflict of interest when I attempt to sell an item. When I list a proto on Ebay that hasn't been through VGA, that's my own personal stamp of authenticity. Problem is, 99.9999999% of game collectors wouldn't know who I was if I slapped them in the face.

VGA putting their reputation on the line for this and any other game they grade gives buyers peace of mind and nets sellers thousands of extra dollars. When it comes to this hobby, the only thing I like more than historical preservation is making Gorillions. VGA helps me do that. Some people hate hearing it, but it's a reality of where the hobby has gone.

Okay, so how about getting in touch with VGA staff and talk about this with them instead of doing a big useless rant which is clearly off-topic in this thread.

You can easily get in contact with them. Go on, see if they're aware of what you are aware, and if they're not, how about sharing your knowledge on the subject so they can do a better job. That would be positive.

'cause i think they're scumbags who will do anything for money? They're grading shrinkwrap for christ sake.

On the bright side you can make money helping them grade it. Say what you want, that would be a cool job. I mean shit, I'd microwave hamsters if the money was right and I got full dental.

That's a good point dude. If he got the expertise, and could really be helpful to them, it's not impossible they would pay him for sharing significant information.

No, in this auction they issued a certificate of authenticity on an item they didn't produce. They're authenticating an item produced decades before they entered the market, and have no demonstrable authority. It would have more weight it you two just certified them yourselves, you're more of an expert on NES prototypes then they are.

I actually agree with you on that point. The Nolans are two of the go to guys when it comes to repros and one of the very few I would trust if I was in the market for a prototype. That being said, they've had their hands all over it and that's verification enough for me. Having it slabbed just makes it a nice showpiece and I'm glad they shared it. It's a piece of history, why not showcase it?

As someone who's spent more than a decade in the game industry, what happens when I send 4 real prototypes and one fake one? If i'm the lead developer on a game, and I make a fake prototype, how could they ever tell?

I think the same.
I look forward to the day when a fake prototype will be graded or even better, a graded undumped game.

someone who wants something to go through as fake has a pretty screwed logic and has no place on this site. to me, that's pretty dishonest.

for some reason, people seem to think those who like vga and those who don't should be at odds. not me. what is so wrong with an authentication process. vga has a shop set up and those who are odds here need to check themselves and not bitch. that, or offer a superior service. this is a free market.

i'm not looking for a populatirty contest here, so if you can't see my point, you obviously aren't paying attention.

i'm also not going to put up with trolling posts like atamos'. i've been here too long to deal with assholes and I'll call like it is.

As someone who's spent more than a decade in the game industry, what happens when I send 4 real prototypes and one fake one? If i'm the lead developer on a game, and I make a fake prototype, how could they ever tell?

I think the same.
I look forward to the day when a fake prototype will be graded or even better, a graded undumped game.

in short, i take what atamos and programmingace said as, "when and how did VGA gain the special knowledge to authenticate real vs fake prototypes?"

i don't have anything VGA, but from what i've seen online VGA does seem like a reputable company that does try to provide the best product they can. but, that still doesn't change the fact of what atamos and ace the programmer implied: what gives them the power to authenticate prototypes? and i think that is a very fair question to ask. especially for a company that has a relative new being with video games. people may bitch about them grading sealed games, but pretty much all factory sealed shit - video game related or not - have similar characteristics. as far as i know it doesn't take special "video game knowledge" to identity a legit seal on a video game. but aren't prototypes a different story?

just because they are a reputable service of grading sealed video games we are just supposed to accept they can authenticate prototypes? did somebody "teach" them?

i just wanted to point out i could care less about VGAed prototypes. but people have raised some questions that have peaked my interest on the subject matter.

While ProgrammingAce adds very, VERY valid points, Atamos has done little but look like an ass. ProgrammingAce is on the same path... like others have said, instead of being so whole-heartedly against this, why not help? It makes people look like children who can't get along. If you don't agree with it, fine. But guess what, it's happening. Instead of being a negative nancy about the whole situation, maybe they would take the advice of the "knowledgable" people who worked on this... hell, maybe they'd be [gasp] compinsate for your time?!?!$

I'm not about to let people talk the shit about faking stuff and being happy about it. wrong place to do it.

If you ask me if VGA has the power to grade these? YES. Do they have the knowledge to authenticate? NO.

I don't know who you are ProgrammingAce, but I immediately took to the cut of your jib, and would like to read more. Hope you show up in the "Everything VGA" thread. I have some similar reservations about their organization/business/whatever.

I spent 9 years working at the company who packaged and distributed NES games. At one point, i worked on the packaging lines that shipped NES games out the door. I have very little faith that VGA is doing anything but taking your money. Do they know the difference between a Doughboy shrinkwrap machine vs. a Shanklin? Can they tell the difference between shrinkwrap sold by Shanklin before and after they were purchased by International Paper? Because I can. I can go so far as to tell you what factory a game was packaged in, can they?

Okay, so how about getting in touch with VGA staff and talk about this with them instead of doing a big useless rant which is clearly off-topic in this thread.

You can easily get in contact with them. Go on, see if they're aware of what you are aware, and if they're not, how about sharing your knowledge on the subject so they can do a better job. That would be positive.

Not a bad idea. He brings up two things which may go together like BP and Jelly.

These out of work programmers and factory workers with sealed games experience should apply for jobs at VGA.

No, in this auction they issued a certificate of authenticity on an item they didn't produce. They're authenticating an item produced decades before they entered the market, and have no demonstrable authority. It would have more weight it you two just certified them yourselves, you're more of an expert on NES prototypes then they are.

truth be told, i'd love if someone who has more knowledge to act as a third party authenticator on prototype and pre-production demos. CGA is in the market of new items as collectables and to a lesser extent prototypes, one offs and pre production pieces. It really isn't there strong suit, but until someone or something comes along that is more knowledgeable on the subject matter, we have this.

and why the fuck would you look forward to the day when a fake prototype would be "graded" or a graded one that was undumped.

if you think the nolans are in this for the money, then you need to check your fucking ego at the door atamos.

myself, like the nolans are in it 110% for authentication, verification, and preservation of the actual piece and the actual data. i'm going to dump all of my prototypes, set a fucking precedent for how prototypes should be backed up before grading/authenticating.

people aren't out to "ruin" video games by grading them.

until you actually have a thought process that makes sense, don't post. "looking forward" to what you say would be pure destruction to what we love. so in short, fuck off.

Wow, calm down, my last sentence was ironic, I say that because it might happen due to VGA not being prepared to authenticate prototypes, if people (I'm not speaking of the Nolans here) see that they can make money by ''grading'' prototypes, who knows if one day someone will ''grade'' an undumped proto to try making more money of it. I don't wish this to happen, understand me and I respect a lot the Nolans, you don't have to be so agressive about that.